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Talk of Town: CS buys Sh100m city property, county boss seeks shield amid revolt
Wads of cash.
A Cabinet Secretary who secured his position last year following President William Ruto’s reconstitution of the top team appears to have become an overnight millionaire. Those close to him were recently shocked when he purchased a building in a city for Sh100 million. The CS, who holds a lucrative portfolio, is known to have the ear of an influential opposition politician and has emerged as one of the most vocal defenders of the government. An aide was overheard discussing the latest development, revealing that his boss made a one-off payment for the property in foreign currency.
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PS wants coffee machine amid austerity
A Principal Secretary who has made no pretence about his love for the finer things in life - at the taxpayer’s expense - is at it again. The man now wants an expensive coffee-making machine installed in his office so he can enjoy a well-brewed cappuccino. Despite the government’s austerity measures, he appears unfazed and has demanded the machine be delivered as a matter of urgency. Shocked ministry staff say this is just the latest in a series of outrageous demands from the senior official, who seems to have a misplaced sense of entitlement.
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Night meet sparks query over land deal
Two officials from the corridors of justice have raised eyebrows after reportedly making a night visit to the home of a county chief in the Nyanza region. The visiting entourage also included a land registrar and a County Assembly Speaker, who is facing legal matters related to land. A source privy to the nocturnal meeting revealed that the county boss was “generous to his visitors” and urged them to help settle the Speaker’s land woes. The county chief is also said to have requested that the devolved unit, currently under pressure from contractors demanding payment of pending bills running into billions, be shielded from legal trouble.
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Keyboard warriors retreat in western
Have the bloggers on the payroll of an influential Western Kenya State operative slowed down after being called out by a senior politician? A spot check suggests the keyboard warriors have made a tactical retreat, after it became clear that their online attacks were doing their master more harm than good. It remains to be seen whether they will resume their usual praise-singing or maintain their silence for good. There have been growing concerns that the senior official has deployed the online foot soldiers either to discredit his perceived opponents or to boost his image on social media as the emerging political kingpin of his community.
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Cabinet Secretary eyes his own party
A Cabinet Secretary, who is a beneficiary of the broad-based government arrangement, is said to be plotting to launch his own political party, which he hopes to use as a bargaining chip in the 2027 elections. Sources say he has explored several options, including using proxies to acquire an existing party currently in the hands of former allies of another influential politician from his region. The CS has also been linked to persistent attacks against his party leader - allegedly orchestrated through a local Member of Parliament in the region.
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County boss seeks shield amid revolt
Is a governor in one of the key counties paying a retainer fee to an influential politician? Well, the county boss is said to be taking care of the politician’s well-being in exchange for political protection. The powerful politician has reportedly reined in his lieutenants in the county, urging them to go easy on the embattled governor, who is facing mounting criticism from other influential quarters. However, some MPs have defied the directive and are said to be quietly rallying various MCAs to stage a serious fightback.Sensing danger, he is reported to have reached out to top State officials for help should an onslaught be launched against him.